Exercise apparatus

ABSTRACT

An exercise apparatus having a base, a support member, at least two legs, each of the legs having a first and pivotably attached to the base and a second end pivotably attached to the support member, and a longitudinally adjustable member connected between the base and the support member for infinitely adjusting and securing a vertical position of the support member between two end positions.

PRIORITY CLAIM

This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application Ser.No. 60/566,853, filed Apr. 30, 2004.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to an exercise apparatus, and moreparticularly to an exercise bench whose vertical position can beadjusted infinitely between two end points.

Exercise devices of many types are known, including exercise deviceswhich have a so-called bench which is used in combination with variousother types of exercise components for exercising different parts of thebody. Examples of such benches are those sold under the Universal® andNautilus® trademarks. The problem with such conventional benches is thatthey are either fixed as to either their height off the ground or, ifthey are adjustable, the adjustment is only possible in fixedincrements. This presents a drawback to these prior art benches since auser must settle for either a fixed height of the bench or one of thepreselected heights when using the exercise equipment. This “settling”compromises the efficiency, safety, and benefits to the user when usingthe exercise equipment since it is not optimally adjusted or adjustableto his or her stature.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide anexercise bench construction that is infinitely adjustable between twoend positions.

Pursuant to this object, and others which will become apparenthereafter, one aspect of the present invention resides in an exerciseapparatus having a base, a support platform and at least two legspivotally attached to the base and the support platform. Alongitudinally adjustable member is connected between the base and thesupport member for infinitely adjusting and securing a vertical positionof the support platform above the base between two end positions.

In another embodiment of the invention, the adjustable member includes afirst hollow tube having a second end pivotably attached to the supportplatform and a first open end. A second hollow tube has a first endpivotally attached to the base and a second end arranged within thefirst tube via the first end of the first tube. A mechanism is alsoprovided for moving the tubes relative to one another.

The moving mechanism, in one embodiment, includes a threaded first shaftrotatably mounted in one of the tubes and a threaded sleeve fixed in theother of the tubes. A threaded shaft is arranged to pass through thesleeve so that rotation of the shaft causes the sleeve to move along theshaft.

In still another embodiment, the first shaft is mounted in the firsttube and the threaded sleeve is fixed in the second tube. In yet anotherembodiment, the moving mechanism further includes a gear mechanism forrotating the threaded shaft from outside the first tube. The gearmechanism includes a second shaft arranged substantially perpendicularto the first shaft and extending through a wall of the first tube. Thesecond shaft has a first end outside the first tube and a second endinside the first tube. A first gear is mounted on the second end of thesecond shaft and is in engagement with a second gear mounted on thefirst shaft.

In still another embodiment, the first and second gears are bevel gears.Furthermore, a crank can be mounted on the first end of the second shaftto facilitate rotation of the second shaft.

Another embodiment provides a stop mounted on the base so that one ofthe legs rests against the stop in one of the end positions.

In yet another embodiment, the second end of the first tube is mountedto the support member in a region in which a first one of the legs isattached to the support member and the first end of the second tube ismounted to the base in a region in which a second one of the legs isattached to the base.

Other features and advantages of the present invention will becomeapparent from the following description of the invention which refers tothe accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a side view of the inventive exercise apparatus in a first endposition;

FIG. 2 is a side view of the inventive apparatus in a second position;and

FIG. 3 is a cross-section showing the crank mechanism;

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring to the drawings, FIG. 1 shows the inventive exercise apparatushaving a bench 1 with a base 2 on which legs 3, 4 are pivotally mountedat one end. A platform 5 is pivotally mounted at the other end of thelegs 3, 4.

A longitudinally adjustable member 6 is connected between the base 2 andthe support member 5. A stop member 7 is mounted on the base 2 so thatthe leg 3 rests against the stop 7 in the lower-most position of thesupport member 5, as shown in FIG. 1.

The adjustable member 6 extends between a point in a region of the endof the leg 3 attached to the base 2, to a region of the support member 5where the legs 4 are attached. The adjustable member 6 has an adjustablelength so that as the length increases from the position shown in FIG. 1the support member 5 is raised vertically to a second end position. Theheight of the support 5 can be maintained at any desired positionbetween the lower-most and upper-most positions.

The adjustable member 6 is made up of a first tubular member 8 and asecond tubular member 9 arranged to slide within the first tubularmember 8 in a telescoping manner. One end of the second tubular member 9is attached to the base 2 and one end of the first tubular member 8 isattached to the bottom side of the support member 5. The tubular members8, 9 are connected together by a screw-drive mechanism arranged withinthe tubes. The screw-drive mechanism includes a threaded shaft 10 isrotatably held within the first tubular member 8 by a bearing 11. Aproximal end of the shaft 10 is fitted with a first beveled gear 12. Asecond beveled gear 13 engages the first beveled gear 12 and is drivenby a crank 14 via a shaft 15 that extends through a side wall of thefirst tubular member 8.

A threaded sleeve 16 is fixed within the free end of the second tubularmember 9 that is arranged in the first tubular member 8. The threadedshaft 10 is threaded into the sleeve 16 so that rotation of the threadedshaft 10 causes the sleeve 16 to ride up or down the threads of theshaft 10, depending upon the direction of rotation of the shaft 10, soas to move the second tubular member relative to the first tubularmember and thereby change the length of the adjustable member 6 and inturn raise or lower the support member 5. This rotation of the shaft 10is carried out by turning the crank or handle 14. By stopping theturning of the handle 14 the support can be held at any desired heightbetween the two end positions.

It will be understood by those skilled in the art that other types ofrotation transmission mechanisms can be used in place of the beveledgears.

It is also understood that although the illustrated embodiment has threelegs supporting the support member 5 on the base 2, this support canalso be provided by, if desired, two legs or more than three legs.

Additionally, the stop member 7 is not essential for practicing theinvention, but is desirable for providing additional stability in thelower-most position of the support 5.

Although the present invention has been described in relation toparticular embodiments thereof, many other variations and modificationsand other uses will become apparent to those skilled in the art. It ispreferred, therefore, that the present invention be limited not by thespecific disclosure herein, but only by the appended claims.

1. An exercise apparatus, comprising: a base; a support member; at leasttwo legs, each of the legs having a first and pivotably attached to thebase and a second end pivotably attached to the support member; and alongitudinally adjustable member connected between the base and thesupport member for infinitely adjusting and securing a vertical positionof the support member between two end positions.
 2. An exerciseapparatus as in claim 1, wherein the adjustable member includes a firsthollow tube having a second end pivotably attached to the supportmember, and an open first end, a second hollow tube having first endpivotably attached to the base and a second end arranged within thefirst tube via the first end of the first tube so that the tubes aremovable relative to one another in a telescoping manner, and a mechanismfor moving the tubes relative to one another.
 3. An exercise apparatusas in claim 2, wherein the moving mechanism includes a threaded firstshaft rotatably mounted in one of the tubes, and a threaded sleeve fixedin the other of the tubes, the threaded shaft being arranged to passthrough the sleeve so that rotation of the shaft causes the sleeve tomove along the shaft.
 4. An exercise apparatus as in claim 3, whereinthe first shaft is mounted in the first tube and the threaded sleeve isfixed in the second tube.
 5. An exercise apparatus as in claim 4,wherein the moving mechanism further includes a gear mechanism forrotating the threaded shaft from outside the first tube.
 6. An exerciseapparatus as in claim 5, wherein the gear mechanism includes a secondshaft arranged substantially perpendicular to the first shaft andextending through a wall of the first tube, the second shaft having afirst end outside the first tube and a second end inside the first tube,the second end having a first gear mounted thereon that is in engagementwith a second gear mounted on the first shaft.
 7. An exercise apparatusas in claim 6, wherein the first and second gears are bevel gears.
 8. Anexercise apparatus as in claim 6, and further comprising a crank mountedon the first end of the second shaft to facilitate rotation of thesecond shaft.
 9. An exercise apparatus as in claim 1, wherein the legsare parallel.
 10. An exercise apparatus as in claim 1, wherein thesupport member is parallel to the base.
 11. An exercise apparatus as inclaim 10, wherein the base is longer than the support member.
 12. Anexercise apparatus as in claim 1, wherein two legs are provided at oneend of the support member and one leg is provided at another end of thesupport member.
 13. An exercise apparatus as in claim 1, and furthercomprising a stop mounted on the base so that one of the legs restsagainst the stop in one of the end positions.
 14. An exercise apparatusas in claim 2, wherein the second end of the first tube is mounted tothe support member in a region in which a first one of the legs isattached to the support member.
 15. An exercise apparatus as in claim14, wherein the first end of the second tube is mounted to the base in aregion in which a second one of the legs is attached to the base.
 16. Anexercise apparatus as in claim 1, and further comprising exerciseequipment at one end of the support member.